Just when you think you see it all

When I thought I’d seen it all, I saw something new.
When I figured I knew the answers, Coach Prime then changed the questions.
College football has undergone a seismic shift in the past few years, and that was before Wednesday, the first day of football’s Early Signing Period in the NCAA.
Name, image and likeness royalties? Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn.
Transfer portal? Ho-hum.
Brian Kelly doing his best grandpa dance back-to-back with LSU prized recruit Walker Howard? Definitely where I parked my car, but boring in comparison.
Wednesday, Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders made the most shocking signing in the history of college football.
Coach Sanders convinced one of the nation’s top-two (depending on which service you follow) recruits to play for a Historical Black College and University, or HBCU.
Travis Hunter, the top-rated cornerback recruit, flipped his commitment from Florida State to sign for Jackson State.
That’s right. A top prospect willingly chose to play for a Football Championship Subdivision program over a Football Bowl Subdivision program.
He will play Southern and Grambling in conference instead of programs like Clemson or Georgia Tech.
He chose what used to be called 1-AA over what has traditionally been known as D1.
He took the road less traveled, and that’s exciting on many levels to me.
First, let’s talk about the obvious decision to play where he wants to play. No matter what.
That level of empowerment wasn’t possible even five years ago. If you wanted exposure, you went play with the “big boys” no questions asked.
It’s refreshing to see kids play where their hearts are instead of where they think their hearts should be.
Second, and I don’t think it should be understated. Hunter’s already-signed NIL deal gave him the ability to pretty much choose freely.
Hunter reportedly received a $1.2 million NIL deal with the website Barstool Sports.
That level of financial freedom, while dangerous for a kid that young, also allowed him to not have the pressure of having to play at a “big program” to maximize his earning potential while in college.
Yes, the discussion of “earning potential” and “amateur athletics” merits its own talk. We’ll get there in another column.
Third, and I don’t think this needs to be discounted, is that Deion Sanders remains a name that has serious credibility with the younger generation.
“Primetime” has always been one to make a splash. The high-stepping, gold chains, bombast, trash talking. He did it all, flashed it all and then he backed it all up.
When he was introduced as JSU’s head coach, one of Sanders’ memorable quotes was “Confidence is my natural odor.”
That’s an awesome, and over-the-top thing to say. It was classic Prime.
When asked about recruiting in that same press conference, Sanders didn’t back down and didn’t shy away from his vision for the program he now runs.
"This wonderful walk that I just made from the car to this podium, you better look around,” he said. “I don't see nothing limited about that. This looks really, really good. It's astounding. The resources allowing four or five stars, some of the so-called elite players to understand what HBCUs occupy, that's a whole other thing.”
From day one, Deion believed that players like Travis Hunter were possible.
It should shock no one that Sanders didn’t limit himself, or his program, in its pursuit of finding the very best players possible.
Further, it shouldn’t be discounted that this can become more than an anomaly.
In July 2020, top basketball recruit Makur Maker chose another HBCU as his college destination when he signed with Howard University.
Bottom line is that in the age of NIL deals and the transfer portal, there is nothing preventing top prospects from trying their hands at any school they wish.
After all, coaches view the portal as year-round signing day at this point. What’s to stop a kid from seeing if he likes an HBCU, an FCS or any other “small program” for a year and seeing if he’s more comfortable there?
The safety net ... ummm, transfer portal ... doesn't box a kid into a life-changing decision anymore.
The box, once wrought with iron bars and an industrial padlock, has been replaced with a wet Amazon box that can easily be broken through in the worst-case scenario.
There's an Amazon Prime(time) joke somewhere in there.
But regardless, the freedom kids have is both refreshing and alarming.
But, as of Wednesday it was exciting, new and game-changing.
Your move, big boys ...